Westford's 3rd Annual Juneteenth Flag Raising & Community Reading

Westford's 3rd Annual Juneteenth Flag Raising & Community Reading
Join us on June 19 at 6:00 PM on the Westford Town Common for an evening of community gathering, reflection, and learning as we observe Juneteenth together.

As we hoist the traditional Juneteenth flag, we will be joined by representatives from across our community. This moment of recognition marks Westford’s ongoing commitment to honoring the history of emancipation and strengthening our shared commitment to racial equity.

Immediately following the flag raising – approximately 7pm - we will head over to the First Parish Church United for the second portion of the program.

There, we will explore the historical and contemporary significance of Frederick Douglass’s powerful 1852 address, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, through a community reading and guided discussion.

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Keynote Speaker
Dr. Robert Forrant
Professor emeritus, Department of Regional Economic and Social Development
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Dr. Forrant will provide a historical overview of Frederick Douglass’s speech, placing it within the political and social context of 1852 while helping audiences consider its meaning today.
Dr. Forrant has served as a consultant to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the International Labour Organization. He is the editor of three volumes on sustainable regional development and the author of numerous scholarly articles examining industrial development and decline in the Connecticut River Valley and across New England.

He is also the author of Metal Fatigue, a book exploring the history of metalworking in the Connecticut River Valley with a particular focus on Springfield, Massachusetts.

In recent years, Dr. Forrant has partnered with Lowell National Historical Park to create a series of Labor History walking tours, highlighting community voices and local perspectives that shape Lowell’s past, present, and future.
Guided Reflection Facilitator
Saadia Ahmad
Saadia Ahmad is an educational consultant, published writer, and certified mediator and dialogue facilitator with extensive experience leading community conversations centered on belonging, history, and civic engagement.

She currently serves as Director of Belonging Engagement and Mission at Community Teamwork in Lowell, Massachusetts, where her work focuses on fostering inclusive dialogue and strengthening community connections.

During the program, Ahmad will facilitate a guided reflection, helping participants thoughtfully engage with Douglass’s address and explore how its themes resonate in contemporary civic life.
Westford Historical Society & Museum
Linda Greene, Director
Linda Greene will provide local historical perspective drawn from Once Known: A History of Slavery in Westford, authored by local historian Leslie Howard.

Her contribution helps connect Frederick Douglass’s national critique of slavery to Westford’s own historical record, illustrating how national histories of enslavement and freedom intersect with local experience.

About Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the day in June 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States.

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the first new federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Info: Flag Raising on the Westford Common

Info: Head over to First Parish Church United, 48 Main St, Westford (Just across the street)

Info: First Parish Church United sanctuary venue

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